Member Profile: Marlyn Fernandez

Your Name: Marlyn Fernandez

Name of your business: Get It Cleaned

When did you open your business? Registered 2011 but I started 3 months ago

What services do you offer? Rresidential & commercial services, home improvements (contractor with 25 years of experience), glass repair and installation, computer services, TV, home theater & security camera installation, windows washing, power washing. Soon to come are floors, carpet and landscaping.

Why did you start the business? After a divorce I needed a flexible schedule, being a single mom of 3 boys is very challenging!

How many people are in your company? 2

What has been the biggest surprise, good or bad, since you started? Biggest surprise: How well I can understand others people needs.
Good: This can really work for me and my boys.
Bad: It takes time and patience to see this business grow.

What is the toughest part of running your business? Cold calls to office and property managers. Learning how much to charge, for a win - win situation.

What is the best part of running your business? It's flexible and I LOVE it!

Is there anything that you would have done differently? One time I gave a phone estimate and I lost the opportunity to get a new client, and I was only charging her $107.00 2x a month for 1600 sq. ft!!! Which I think is a fair price, but I learned that building a relationship before I talk about price is a MUST!

What is the most important thing you will be adding, doing, changing in the next year for your business? If a client is not comfortable with the price, try to work with them with the amount of money they can afford instead, by customizing their cleaning needs.

Where do you see your business in 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years? Wow!
2 y = cleaning 4 accounts daily and getting my certification.
5 y = cleaning 12 accounts daily with a medium team.
10 y = cleaning big commercial accounts and my oldest son helping me manage the business with 24 accounts daily and a big team.

What advice could you give others and please don't hold back! Really LISTEN to your clients needs and reasure them that their needs will be cover. For them not hesitate to pick the phone and call if there is anything wrong and to help me by filling the score card. I also tell them that my job is for them to be satisfied with our services.

How do you use MyHouseCleaningBiz.com to help you with your business? OMG!! All the forms and letters!!! It's incredible! I love it! It makes my life so much easier. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

What are some of your prior jobs or businesses: Banking, customer service, data entry, sales.

Is there a specific person or event in your life that made you decide to go into business for yourself? My divorce.

Website: http://getitcleanednj.com